1
Electronic Long-Term Services and Supports
(eLTSS) Standards
Session 235, February 14, 2019
Elizabeth Palena Hall, ONC
Bonnie Young, GA Department of Community Health
Electronic Long-Term Services and Supports (eLTSS) Standards
2
Conflict of Interest
Elizabeth Palena Hall, ONC
• Has no real or apparent conflicts of interest to report.
Bonnie Young, GA Department of Community Health
• Has no real or apparent conflicts of interest to report.
3
Agenda
• Long Term Services and Supports Need for Health Information
Sharing to Support Coordinated Care
• eLTSS Project Overview, Key Accomplishments, Vision and Use
Cases
• eLTSS Roadmap for 2019 and Work with HL7
• eLTSS Community Engagement Opportunities
4
Objectives
• Describe an overview of the eLTSS Initiative, a joint CMS and
ONC project, focused on the identification of national standards to
support interoperable LTSS service plan exchange, sponsored
through a Medicaid Demonstration Grant
• Analyze the value proposition for standardizing person-centered
eLTSS data elements in support of interoperable data exchange
across the continuum of care and service delivery
• Describe the process for engaging diverse stakeholder groups to
include clinical and non-clinical providers, federal and state
partners, individuals and advocates, system implementers and
standards development organizations (SDOs) in the identification
of interoperable standards for eLTSS plans
• Explain how the standardized eLTSS plan can be used to support
the capture and exchange of social determinants of health
(SDOH) data such as housing, education and transportation
which influence individuals' ability to maintain their health
5
RI
OR
NV
UT
AZ
SD
NE
KS
AR
LA
WI
IN
TN
GA
ME
AL
WV
CA
ID
MT
WY
NM
ND
MN
IA
MI
IL
MO
OH
PA
CO
NC
WA
VT
NH
MA
MD
DE
NJ
DC
A
K
H
I
CT
Source: NASUAD Analysis Current Population Survey, Annual Social and
Economic Supplement, 2006 and 2016
SC
FL
V
A
KY
O
K
M
S
TX
N
Y
Percent Change
15% - 24.9%
25% - 34.9%
35% - 44.9%
45% or
higher
Percentage Increase in the Number of
Older Adults Age 60 or above from 2006
to 2016
7
The Intersection of Health and
Social Services
• Especially for older adults, there is a significant overlap between
primary/acute care and LTSS:
– Hospitalization (example: broken hip) -> post-acute
rehabilitation -> personal care and chore services
• Fractured eligibility & payment systems, particularly Medicare and
Medicaid, can lead to disconnects between settings of care,
treatment goals, and desired health/social outcomes
– However, eligibility, payment, and quality management can
be fractured inside of Medicaid too
• Interoperable systems have the promise of improving coordination
and keeping LTSS person-centered
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What is Community-Based Long-Term
Services and Supports (CB-LTSS) or Home
and Community-Based Services (HCBS)?
• The National Quality Forum refers to the term “home and community-
based services” as an “…array of services and supports delivered
in the home or other integrated community setting that promote
the independence, health and well-being, self-determination, and
community inclusion of a person of any age who has significant,
long-term physical, cognitive, sensory, and/or behavioral health
needs”.
• HCBS services are often delivered by providers funded by state
Medicaid programs through an HCBS waiver program, authorized
under section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act.
• Standard services include but are not limited to: case management
(i.e. supports and service coordination), homemaker, home
health aide, personal care, adult day health services, habilitation
(both day and residential), and respite care.
• In the United States, Medicaid is significant source of reimbursement
to states for HCBS
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9
LTSS Beneficiaries are Driving Medicaid
Spending
9
10
RI
AK
HI
Current MLTSS program (regional **)
Duals demonstration program only
MLTSS in active development
MLTSS under consideration
OR
NV
UT
AZ
SD
NE
KS
AR
LA
WI
**
IN
KY
TN
GA
SC
VA
ME
MS
AL
WV
CA **
ID
MT
WY
NM
TX
ND
OK
MN
IA
MI
IL
**
MO
OH
FL
PA
NY
CO
NC
WA
VT
NH
MA
MD
DE
NJ
DC
RI
CT
Source: NASUAD survey; CMS data
Changing Delivery Systems Impacting
Services – MLTSS Programs 2017
11
Consumer Surveys: Medicaid Supports
Source: NASUAD 2016 Survey of State Agencies on Outcomes and Data (n=42)
12
Consumer Surveys: Non-Medicaid LTSS
Source: NASUAD 2016 Survey of State Agencies on Outcomes and Data (n=42)
13
State Aging/Disability Information
Sharing
13
22
7
Does your information system share data with other
HHS data systems?
Yes No Other
Source: NASUAD 2016 Survey of State Agencies on Outcomes and Data (n=42)
14
The Goal: LTSS Integrated System
14
Statewide
database of
services for use
for all entry
points regardless
of payer
Easy to
use data
collection
system
Multiple entry
points, but built on
the same
foundation
Measuring
quality and
improving
performance
One common
identifier for
consumer
throughout
his/her LTSS
experience
Integrated
Person-
centered
LTSS System
Eligibility
Sites
MCOs
LTSS
Providers
AAAs/
ADRCs
CILs
Primary/
Acute
Providers
15
Person centered thinking, planning, and
practice is the foundation of Home and
Community Based Services for people with
disabilities across the lifespan
16
eLTSS Background and Project
Overview
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eLTSS Project Background
• The eLTSS Initiative is a joint project between CMS and ONC, made possible by
CMS funding. Established to advance data-level interoperability for the home
and community-based services (HCBS) community
– The initiative focuses on the identification and harmonization of electronic
standards that can enable the creation, exchange and re-use of
interoperable person-centered service plans for use by health care and
home and community based service providers, payers and the individuals
they serve.
– These plans can help to improve the coordination of health and social
services that support an individual’s mental and physical health.
• Driven by the requirements of the CMS Testing Experience and Functional Tools
(TEFT) in Medicaid Planning and Demonstration Grant Program
• Introduced in Affordable Care Act (ACA) Section 2701
• March 2014: CMS awarded Demonstration Grants to 9 states: AZ, CO,
CT, GA, KY, LA, MD, MN, NH
• 6 of these 9 states participated in the eLTSS component of TEFT: CO, CT,
GA, KY, MD, MN
https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid-chip-program-information/by-topics/delivery-systems/grant-programs/teft-program.html
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2015 2016 2017 2018
eLTSS Initiative Kick-off Nov
‘14
Use Case Complete
Round 1 Pilots
eLTSS Dataset
Harmonization
Round 2 Pilots
eLTSS Final
Dataset
Published
eLTSS Supplemental
Begins (eLTSSv2)
eLTSS Dataset to HL7
Mapping Complete
eLTSS Whitepaper
Balloted through
HL7
eLTSS Informative
Document (Whitepaper)
Published via HL7
eLTSS Ballot Reconciliation
Complete, Changes Made,
Negative Votes Withdrawn
eLTSS FHIR IG
Balloted
through HL7
2020
eLTSS Ballot Reconciliation
Complete, Changes Made,
Negative Votes Withdrawn
eLTSS FHIR IG
Published via HL7
* Italics text = future
proposed dates (subject
to change)
2019
eLTSS Initiative At-A-Glance
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Review of the eLTSS Project
• Phase 1:
– Identified and harmonized a core set of data items commonly found on LTSS Service Plans to
facilitate the capture and exchange of person-centered LTSS service plan data.
• Phase 2:
– Piloted identified and harmonized core data items with TEFT grantee states and vendors to
validate the dataset
• Phase 3:
– Continuation of Phase 1 & Phase 2 broken into 2 Tracks
• Track 1: Balloted the eLTSS Informative Document at HL7 in the September 2018
ballot cycle outlining how the harmonized and identified data items could be mapped
using HL7 FHIR and C-CDA
• Track 2: Leverage the published eLTSS Informative Document to create an HL7 FHIR
Implementation Guide (IG). The FHIR IG is scheduled for the May 2019 HL7 Ballot
Cycle.
To track and review eLTSS Artifacts including the published dataset please see the eLTSS wiki:
https://oncprojectracking.healthit.gov/wiki/display/TechLabSC/eLTSS+Home
To track and review eLTSS Artifacts including the published dataset please see the eLTSS wiki:
https://oncprojectracking.healthit.gov/wiki/display/TechLabSC/eLTSS+Home
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eLTSS Final Dataset
• Total Number of Elements: 56
Beneficiary
Demographics
:
10 Elements
Person Name
Person Identifier
Person Identifier Type
Person Date of Birth
Person Phone Number
Person Address
Emergency Contact Name
Emergency Contact
Relationship
Emergency Contact Phone
Number
Emergency Backup Plan
Goals & Strengths:
3 Elements
Goal
Step or Action
Strength
Plan Information:
1 Element
Plan Effective Date
Plan Signatures
:
12 Elements
Person Signature
Person
Printed Name
Person
Signature Date
Guardian/Legal Representative
Signature
Guardian/Legal Representative
Printed Name
Guardian/Legal Representative
Signature Date
Support Planner Signature
Support Planner Printed Name
Support Planner Signature
Date
Service Provider
Signature
Service Provider Printed Name
Service Provider
Signature Date
Risks: 2 Elements
Identified Risk
Risk Management Plan
Person Centered Planning:
11 Elements
Assessed Need
Preference
Person Setting
Choice Indicator
Person Setting Choice Options
Service Options Given Indicator
Service
Selection Indicator
Service
Provider Options Given
Indicator
Service
Provider Selection
Agreement Indicator
Service
Plan Agreement
Indicator
Plan Monitor Name
Plan Monitor Phone Number
Service Provider
Information:
5 Elements
Support Planner Name
Support Planner Phone Number
Service Provider Name
Service Provider Phone
Number
Non
-Paid Provider
Relationship
Service Information:
12 Elements
Service Name
Self
-Directed Service
Indicator
Service Start Date
Service End Date
Service
Delivery Address
Service Comment
Service Funding Source
Service Unit Quantity
Unit of Service Type
Service Unit Quantity Interval
Service Rate per Unit
Total Cost of Service
Final dataset and information on HL7 engagement available at:
https://oncprojectracking.healthit.gov/wiki/display/TechLabSC/eLTSS+Ho
me
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Vision for eLTSS Dataset Integration
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eLTSS Dataset can be incorporated into
various programs and health/wellness IT
systems
Wearables
Transport Systems
Housing Systems
Mobile Health Systems
Clinical and non-clinical IT
Systems
Education Programs
Nutrition Programs
Wellness Programs
For interoperability, eLTSS dataset
needs to be represented using nationally
recognized vocabularies and content
standards
22
eLTSS Use Case Examples
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eLTSS Timeline:
• September – December 2018
– Conducted ballot disposition on all ballot comments collected during
ballot comment period
– Updated the eLTSS Informative document to reflect comment
dispositions
• January – September 2019
– January: Submitted revised Informative Document to HL7 for
publication
– January – May: Develop the eLTSS FHIR Implementation Guide to be
included in the May 2019 HL7 ballot.
• This IG provides robust formal guidance on how to leverage FHIR
to exchange eLTSS Dataset data. It will also be able to support
continued piloting efforts by implementers.
– June – September: Disposition and reconcile eLTSS FHIR IG ballot
comments
• This process includes reviewing and responding to comments as
well as updating and publishing the final IG based on comment
resolution.
24
Working with a Standards
Development Organization – HL7
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eLTSS Engagement with HL7
• Working with an SDO such as HL7 provides a way to integrate our efforts to
enable interoperability for Home and community based services (HCBS) and
supports into the broader healthcare interoperability landscape bridging the gap
to the larger clinical ecosystem. Being able to leverage an industry recognized
standard gives implementers the framework necessary to create interoperability
between and across different healthcare entities.
– http://www.hl7.org/
• Within HL7, our work is being conducted under the guidance of the following
workgroups:
– Community Based Care and Privacy (CBCP)
– Patient Care (PC)
– Structured Documents (SD)
– FHIR Management Group (FMG)
– Financial Management (FM)
– Orders and Observations (O&O)
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eLTSS Informative Document Contents
• Informative Document: Provides the HL7 Community with context
and narrative around how two national recognized standards,
FHIR and C-CDA, can be used to represent and exchange the
eLTSS Dataset
• Introduction, Objectives and
Background
• LTSS Ecosystem Overview and
Information Sharing Use Cases
• FHIR and C-CDA for LTSS Service Plan
Information Exchange
• Approach for Selecting Standards
• Overview of Selected Standards
and Mapping Results
• Exchanging LTSS Service Plans
Using FHIR
• Exchanging LTSS Service Plans
Using C-CDA
• Considerations for Future Work
• Appendices:
• eLTSS Dataset
• FHIR and C-CDA Mappings
• FHIR and C-CDA sample
instances
• C-CDA rendered sample
• Quality of Mapping Legend
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eLTSS Informative Document Publication
• Internal team and government reviews were conducted December
2018 and January 2019
• Our sponsoring workgroup, HL7’s Community-Based Care and
Privacy (CBCP), voted on and approved the submission of
publication request pending withdrawal of final negative vote for
the Informative Document on 1/8/19
• A formal request for publication was submitted to HL7 on 1/10/19
28
eLTSS FHIR IG Development
• Based on the scenarios articulated in the eLTSS use cases, the FHIR
framework is a great fit for enabling eLTSS exchanges due to its focus on
streamlined API-based interoperability, flexible and modular approach and
comprehensive focus aimed at supporting clinical, administrative and
social services workflow needs.
• The eLTSS FHIR Implementation Guide (IG) will provide implementers
with online guidance (e.g., API specifications, capability statements, and
resource profiles) on how to use FHIR to exchange eLTSS data.
• The eLTSS FHIR IG will align with FHIR R4.
• The FHIR IG development process is strict and relies heavily on
prescriptive deadlines with each step being dependent on previous steps
and outside resources (artifact approvals, tooling modifications/versioning,
etc.).
• The goal of this next phase of the eLTSS project is to mature and
formalize the details published in the eLTSS Informative Document into
the eLTSS FHIR IG which will be balloted as a Standard for Trial Use
(STU). An STU balloted IG at provides implementers with comprehensive
guidance on how to use FHIR to enable electronic exchange of the eLTSS
Dataset data items.
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eLTSS Community Engagement
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eLTSS Community Engagement
• Join the HL7 CBCP WG weekly calls to engage in ballot reconciliation
review
– Tuesdays 12:00 – 1:00pm ET
– http://join.freeconferencecall.com/cbhs
– Conference Audio: (515) 604-9861 / Access Code: 429554
• Visit the eLTSS HL7 GForge Site for ballot-related artifacts:
– https://gforge.hl7.org/gf/project/cbcc/docman/eLTSS%20-
%20%20ONC%20Electronic%20Long-
Term%20Services%20and%20Supports/
• Visit the eLTSS Confluence Page for meeting information and relevant
artifacts:
– https://oncprojectracking.healthit.gov/wiki/display/TechLabSC/eLT
SS+Home
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eLTSS Initiative: Project Team Leads
• ONC Leadership
– Stacy Perchem (Anastasia.perchem@hhs.gov)
– Elizabeth Palena Hall (elizabeth.palenahall@hhs.gov)
• CMS Leadership
– Kerry Lida (Kerry.Lida@cms.hhs.gov)
• State of Georgia, Department of Community Health
Leadership
– Bonnie Young (bonnie.young@dch.ga.gov)
• Program Manager
– Johnathan Coleman (jc@securityrs.com)
• Project Management
– Amber Patel (ayp@securityrs.com)
• Subject Matter Expert
– Jamie Parker (jamie.parker@carradora.com)
• Harmonization Lead
– Becky Angeles (becky.angeles@carradora.com)
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Appendix:
Additional Resources
34
HL7 FHIR Balloting Timeline and Artifacts
(1/2)
What Needs
Done
How Do We Get It Done? Why Do It?
When is
it Due?
Introduce
Upcoming
Ballot to
HL7
Contact FHIR FMG of our upcoming plans and get
insight from them on action needed
Attend Jan 2019 HL7 WGM to present our
upcoming plans to FHIR, CBCP, and Other
Interested WGs (O&O, FM, PC)
HL7 recommends that prior to officially compiling
a ballot that a project considering developing a
ballot circulate and introduce the idea of the work
to the appropriate HL7 work groups. This allows
the work groups to provide guidance and
feedback before the formal ballot process begins.
1/18/19
Project
Scope
Statement
(PSS)
Modify the existing PSS for the eLTSS Informative
Document for the FHIR IG
Need approval from: CBCP WG, FHIR
Management Group (FMG), US Realm Steering
Committee, Steering Division, Architectural
Review Board, and Technical Steering
Committee.
This form is the formal introduction of our work to
HL7 WGs. This form outlines the sponsoring
WGs, project team, project scope and need, and
any external drivers and dependencies.
1/27/19
FHIR IG
Proposal
Complete and submit to FHIR Management
Group (FMG)
Acceptance of proposal will result in the creation
of the eLTSS project within the HL7 framework.
TBD
Notification
of Intent to
Ballot (NIB)
Work with CBCP WG to complete and submit
form to HL7
This officially notifies HL7 of our projects intent to
move forward with a ballot for the May 2019
cycle.
2/17/19
Functionally
Complete IG
Work with CBCP FHIR Liaison (John Moerhke)
Download and install appropriate HL7 FHIR IG
Tooling
Develop Profiles
Develop FHIR Sample Files
Populate required IG sections with Content
To validate and prioritize ballots and to develop
the framework to support the ballots, HL7 is
requiring a Functionally Complete IG as part of
the NIB package.
2/17/19
Final
Content
Submit Complete FHIR IG to HL7 for QA
HL7 requires a new QA period for all FHIR ballots
to ensure ballots are well developed prior to the
ballot period.
3/3/19
Final Freeze
Complete and submit FINAL FHIR IG Content (all
text, profiles, sample files, etc.) to HL7.
Required by HL7
–
ensures the ballot content and
structure is ready for ballot opening.
3/24/19
35
HL7 FHIR Balloting Timeline and Artifacts
(2/2)
What Needs
Done
How Do We Get It Done? Why Do It?
When is it
Due?
Ballot
Consensus
Pool
Sign up for the eLTSS FHIR IG
ballot pool on the HL7 Ballot
Desktop
To vote on an HL7 ballot a voter must
sign up to be part of the ballot pool. This
is similar to voter registration.
3/1
–
3/28/19
Ballot
Period
Submit and monitor vote /
comments
This is when the formal voting takes
place. Anyone signed up for the ballot
pool is able to vote.
3/29 –
4/29/19
May 2019
WGM
Held in Montreal (Quebec) Canada
Begin comment reconciliation of
ballot comments (virtually)
HL7 requires that ballot results are
shared at the working group meeting
associated with the ballot. Ballot
reconciliation will often begin at the
working group meeting.
5/4
–
5/10/19
Ballot
Comment
Reconciliati
on
Work with ballot voters and CBCP
WG to dispose all ballot comments
Required by HL7 as part of the ballot
process.
5/4/2019
Modify IG
Make modifications to eLTSS FHIR
IG based on comments
Enhance the specification based on
comment feedback.
TBD (based
on # of
comments)
Publish IG
Publish eLTSS FHIR IG using HL7
tooling
Standard is available for implementation
and use.
TBD
(dependent
on
comments)
